JP2021032165A - Control device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent a vehicle from starting running while a gas filling hose is connected to the vehicle body.SOLUTION: A control device for a vehicle 1 with an engine 2 using gaseous fuel as the fuel therefor includes a control unit 57 for controlling the engine to stop starting up and transition to an engine stall state upon determining that a gas filling hose is connected to the vehicle body during engine start-up.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle control device including an engine fueled by gaseous fuel.

Conventionally, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle engine automatic stop automatic restart device that prohibits automatic restart of an engine when an opening of a fuel filler port is detected during automatic engine stop.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-110609

However, in the vehicle engine automatic stop automatic restart device described above, if the fuel lid is opened while the engine is restarting, the vehicle may start running.
In a bi-fuel vehicle fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG), a gas filling hose is connected to the vehicle's filling coupler when the CNG is filled into the vehicle's fuel tank. In that case, when filling the vehicle with CNG, in order to prevent the CNG from leaking out of the vehicle, the gas filling hose is connected so as to be in close contact with the filling coupler, unlike gasoline refueling.

In a bi-fuel vehicle, the gas filling hose and the filling coupler are closely connected, so if the gas filling hose is attached to the vehicle body while the engine is starting, the vehicle will be left with the gas filling hose attached to the vehicle body. It is possible that the vehicle will run. When such a situation occurs, not only the gas filling device such as the vehicle and the gas filling hose may be damaged, but also the CNG may leak to the outside.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a vehicle control device for preventing a vehicle from starting running with a gas filling hose connected to a vehicle body when an engine of a vehicle using gaseous fuel is started. The purpose is.

The vehicle control device of the present invention is a vehicle control device including an engine that uses gaseous fuel as fuel, and when it is determined that the gas filling hose is attached to the vehicle body during engine start, the engine start is immediately stopped. It is characterized by including a control unit that shifts to an engine stall state.

According to the present invention, it is possible to surely shift to the engine stall state before the vehicle starts traveling and prevent the vehicle from traveling with the gas filling hose connected to the vehicle body.

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the vehicle which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the system configuration example which concerns on CNG in the engine which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example around the filling coupler installed in the vehicle which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the control device of the vehicle of this invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the vehicle control device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The vehicle control device of the present invention according to the embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle control device including an engine using gaseous fuel as fuel, and it is determined that the gas filling hose is attached to the vehicle body while the engine is starting. In that case, a control unit is provided which immediately stops the engine start and shifts to the engine stall state.

In the vehicle control device according to the present invention, by stopping the engine start immediately when the engine is started, the engine is surely shifted to the engine stall state before the vehicle starts running, and the gas filling hose is connected to the vehicle body. Prevent the vehicle from running.

The vehicle may be a vehicle such as a passenger car, and in FIG. 1, the engine 2 is mounted in, for example, the front engine room of the vehicle 1. First, a schematic configuration of the vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the vehicle 1 is a bi-fuel vehicle. The vehicle 1 includes an internal combustion engine type engine 2, a clutch 3, a transmission 4, a drive wheel 5, and an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 6 that controls the engine 2 and the like.

The engine 2 is composed of a four-cycle engine that performs a series of four strokes including an intake stroke, a compression stroke, an expansion stroke, and an exhaust stroke.
The engine 2 appropriately switches between two types of fuels (first fuel and second fuel) having different characteristics such as gasoline and compressed natural gas (CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas)). It is designed to be used. The engine 2 is provided with a fuel switching device 7 that switches the fuel used in the engine 2 to one of two types of fuel. The fuel switching device 7 supplies one of the two types of fuel to the engine 2 under the control of the ECU 6.

The clutch 3 is provided between the engine 2 and the transmission 4, and interrupts the torque transmitted from the engine 2 to the transmission 4. The clutch 3 is transferred from the engine 2 to the transmission 4 between a transmission state in which the rotation output by the engine 2 is transmitted to the transmission 4 and a cutoff state in which the transmission of the rotation from the engine 2 to the transmission 4 is cut off. Change the degree of transmission of rotation.

The transmission 4 is provided in a power transmission path from the engine 2 to the drive wheels 5. By operating the transmission 4, any one of the plurality of gears can be formed. Specifically, the driver can select the shift stage to be formed according to the operation of the shift lever of the transmission 4.

The ECU 6 is a computer provided with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory for storing various backup data, an input port, and an output port. It is composed of units.
In the ROM of the ECU 6, a program for making the computer unit function as the ECU 6 is stored together with various constants, various maps, and the like. That is, when the CPU of the ECU 6 executes the program stored in the ROM with the RAM as the work area, the computer unit functions as the ECU 6 in the present embodiment.

An engine speed sensor 8 for detecting the engine speed of the engine 2 and a fuel selection switch 9 are connected to the input port of the ECU 6. The input port of the ECU 6 is further connected to various sensors and switches including a vehicle speed sensor that detects the vehicle speed and an accelerator opening sensor that detects the operation amount of the accelerator pedal.

Further, in the output port of the ECU 6, a notification device 10 provided on an instrument panel or the like of the vehicle 1, an engine starter 11 for starting the engine 2, and an engine for igniting fuel in the combustion chamber of the engine 2 are provided. Various control objects including the ignition device 12 and two types of injectors 13A and 13B corresponding to each of the two types of fuel are connected. The injector 13A is connected to a fuel tank 14 for storing the first fuel, and injects the first fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine 2. The injector 13B is connected to a fuel tank 15 for storing the second fuel, and injects the second fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine 2.

The ECU 6 controls various control targets based on the information obtained from the various sensors. For example, the ECU 6 obtains the output torque required for the engine 2 based on the accelerator opening detected by the accelerator opening sensor, and the throttle valve opening (throttle opening) and the injector so that the engine 2 outputs the output torque. The fuel injection amount by 13A and 13B is controlled.

The ECU 6 also selects and switches between the first fuel and the second fuel and supplies the fuel to the combustion chamber from the first fuel to the second fuel or from the second fuel to the second fuel so as to supply the combustion chamber of the engine 2. 1 Switch to fuel as appropriate. For example, the ECU 6 is used according to the operation mode of the engine 2 such as manual switching operation by the fuel selection switch 9, detection of fuel shortage in the fuel tank 14 or fuel tank 15, warm-up operation, steady operation, or acceleration. Switch the fuel to be used. As a method of selecting fuel according to the operation mode of the engine 2, there are a method of selecting inexpensive CNG during warm-up operation and steady operation, and a method of selecting gasoline during acceleration or climbing where torque is required. is there.

Next, FIG. 2 shows an example of a system configuration related to CNG as a second fuel in the engine 2. In FIG. 2, the engine 2 may be, for example, a three-cylinder multi-cylinder engine, and includes a gas fuel supply device 16 constituting a fuel supply system for supplying the CNG in the fuel tank 15 to the engine 2.

In the intake system of the engine 2, an intake manifold 17, a throttle body 18 equipped with a throttle valve 18a for adjusting the intake air amount of the engine 2, an intake pipe 19, and an air cleaner 20 are provided.
Further, the exhaust system of the engine 2 is provided with an exhaust manifold 22 constituting the exhaust device 21, a three-way catalyst 23, and an exhaust pipe 24 provided with a muffler 25.

First to third injectors 13a, 13b, 13c are attached to the intake manifold 17 as injectors 13B for CNG corresponding to each cylinder. These first to third injectors 13a, 13b, 13c are connected to the fuel delivery pipe.

For example, two first and second fuel tanks 15A and 15B are installed in the vehicle 1 as fuel tanks 15 filled with CNG as gaseous fuel. The first and second fuel tanks 15A and 15B are connected to the fuel filling pipe 27 of the gas fuel supply device 16 via the connecting pipes 26A and 26B. One end side of the fuel filling pipe 27 is connected to the filling coupler (receptacle) 28. A check valve 29 is provided in the middle of the fuel filling pipe 27 to prevent the gaseous fuel from the first and second fuel tanks 15A and 15B from flowing back to the filling coupler 28 side.

Further, one end side of the fuel supply pipe 30 of the gas fuel supply device 16 is connected to the other end side of the fuel filling pipe 27. The other end of the fuel supply pipe 30 is connected to a fuel delivery pipe attached to the intake manifold 17.
The fuel supply pipe 30 includes a main stop valve (electromagnetic valve) 31 that closes to shut off the fuel supply pipe 30 when the engine 2 is stopped, a fuel shutoff valve 32, and a constant adjustment of the pressure and flow rate of gaseous fuel. A regulator (pressure reducing valve) 33 for filtering the gas fuel and a fuel filter 34 for filtering the gaseous fuel are sequentially provided.
The main check valve 31 is arranged in the vicinity of the first and second fuel tanks 15A and 15B, and is operated and controlled by the ECU 6 so as to automatically shut off the fuel supply to the engine 2 in an emergency.
The fuel shutoff valve 32 is connected to the ECU 6 and is used to shut off the fuel supply when shifting to the engine stall state.

The fuel supply pipe 30 between the main check valve 31 and the first to third injectors 13a, 13b, 13c is provided with a residual pressure sensor 35 capable of detecting the fuel residual pressure value. The digital fuel gauge 36 and the analog fuel gauge 37 are in contact with the residual pressure sensor 35.
Further, the fuel delivery pipe attached to the intake manifold 17 includes a fuel temperature sensor 38 capable of detecting the fuel temperature between the main stop valve 31 and the first to third injectors 13a, 13b, 13c, and a main stop valve 31. A fuel pressure sensor 39 capable of detecting the fuel pressure between the first to third injectors 13a, 13b, 13c is attached.

Further, the intake pipe 19 is provided with an intake air temperature sensor 40 that detects the intake air temperature of the intake air flowing inside the air cleaner 20.
Further, the throttle body 18 is provided with a throttle opening sensor 41 that detects the throttle opening state of the throttle valve 18a.
Further, the intake manifold 17 is provided with an intake pipe pressure sensor 42 that detects the intake pipe pressure.
The exhaust manifold 22 is provided with an oxygen concentration sensor (O2 sensor) 43 that detects the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas flowing inside.

The first to third injectors 13a, 13b, 13c, the main stop valve 31, the fuel temperature sensor 38, the fuel pressure sensor 39, the intake temperature sensor 40, the throttle opening sensor 41, the intake pipe pressure sensor 42, and the oxygen concentration sensor 43 are , Is connected to the ECU 6.
Further, the ignition switch (IG SW) 44 and the water temperature sensor 45 for detecting the engine cooling water temperature are connected to the ECU 6.
In this case, the ECU 6 has a function of correcting and controlling the fuel injection amount injected from the first to third injectors 13a, 13b, 13c at the time of acceleration according to the intake air temperature detected by the intake air temperature sensor 40. There is.

Here, FIG. 3 shows a configuration example around the filling coupler 28 installed in the vehicle 1. An accommodating portion 47 for arranging and fixing the filling coupler 28 is recessed in a predetermined portion of the vehicle body outer plate 46 of the vehicle 1. The accommodating portion 47 is formed by recessing the outer plate 46 of the vehicle body, and a fuel lid 48 covering the filling coupler 28 is attached to the vicinity of the opening of the accommodating portion 47 so as to be openable and closable via a hinge 49. When the fuel lid 48 is closed, the accommodating portion 47 is closed by the fuel lid 48 as shown in FIG. 3, and the filling coupler 28 is cut off from the outside of the accommodating portion 47.

A locking mechanism 50 that holds the fuel lid 48 in the closed state is provided. As a configuration example of the lock mechanism 50, a plunger 52 that is reciprocally supported in the cylinder 51 so as to project inward of the accommodating portion 47 and a plunger that is fixed to the inner surface of the fuel lid 48 and is fixed when the fuel lid 48 is closed. The fuel lid 48 is held in the closed state by engaging the plunger 52 and the contact piece 53, including the contact piece 53 that engages with the 52.

The lock mechanism 50 is provided with a switch 54 that switches on / off in conjunction with the reciprocating movement of the plunger 52 and detects the open / closed state of the fuel lid 48. When the fuel lid 48 is opened, the plunger 52 urged by the elasticity of the spring 55 protrudes inward of the accommodating portion 47, whereby the switch 54 is turned on. The switch 54 is connected to the ECU 6.

When filling the first and second fuel tanks 15A and 15B with CNG, the fuel lid 48 is opened and the gas filling hose 100 is connected to the filling coupler 28. A gas filling hose 100 is connected to the filling coupler 28, that is, a hose mounting detection unit 56 for detecting that the gas filling hose 100 is mounted on the vehicle body of the vehicle 1 is attached. The notification device 10 notifies the driver that the gas filling hose 100 is connected to the filling coupler 28. The hose attachment detection unit 56 includes a detection switch that switches on / off in response to the connection or disconnection of the gas filling hose 100 to the filling coupler 28, and the hose attachment detection unit 56 is connected to the ECU 6. The detection switch of the hose mounting detection unit 56 may be a mechanical type or an optical type such as a photo sensor.

In the above case, the ECU 6 includes a control unit 57 that immediately stops the engine start and shifts to the engine stall state when it is determined that the gas filling hose 100 is attached to the vehicle body of the vehicle 1 during the engine start (FIG. 1). , Fig. 2). In the ECU 6, whether or not the gas filling hose 100 is connected to the filling coupler 28 is directly determined to be connected by an ON signal from the hose mounting detection unit 56. Alternatively, when the fuel lid 48 is opened instead of the signal from the hose attachment detection unit 56, it is determined that the gas filling hose 100 is attached to the vehicle body of the vehicle 1 by the on signal from the switch 54 of the lock mechanism 50.

Next, the operation of the vehicle control device according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the vehicle control device of the present invention. In step S1, when supplying fuel to the vehicle 1 at a gas station or the like, it is determined whether or not the gas filling hose 100 is connected to the filling coupler 28. This determination is made based on the signal of the detection switch of the hose attachment detection unit 56, that is, when the on signal is sent from the hose attachment detection unit 56, it is determined that the gas filling hose 100 is connected to the filling coupler 28, and the ECU 6 Prohibits engine start (step S2).

When it is determined in step S1 that the gas filling hose 100 is not connected to the filling coupler 28, it is determined in step S3 whether or not the engine is starting. This determination is performed based on the presence or absence of a drive signal for the engine starter 11 or the engine ignition device 12, and if there is no such drive signal, the ECU 6 determines that the engine is not starting and returns.

When it is determined in step S3 that the engine is starting, it is determined in step S4 whether or not the gas filling hose 100 is connected to the filling coupler 28. If there is no ON signal from the hose attachment detection unit 56, it is determined that the gas filling hose 100 is not connected and the hose returns.

When it is determined in step S4 that the gas filling hose 100 is attached to the vehicle body of the vehicle 1, the control unit 57 of the ECU 6 immediately stops the engine start and shifts to the engine stall state in step S5.
In this case, the engine is not in the complete explosion state at the time of transition to the engine stall state, or the engine is in the complete explosion state. There is no particular problem before the engine is completely detonated, but when the engine is completely detonated, the engine 2 may continue to rotate even if the engine starter 11 is stopped.

In order to shift the engine 2 to the engine stall state, the ECU 6 closes the fuel shutoff valve 32 or stops the ignition signal from the engine ignition device 12, and executes any of these processes. At the same time, the ECU 6 stops the engine starter 11. By closing the fuel shutoff valve 32 or stopping the engine ignition device 12 and stopping the engine starter 11 in such a state, even if the engine is in a complete explosion state at the time of transition to the engine stall state, the engine is immediately engineed. It is possible to stop the start and surely shift to the engine stall state.

By stopping the engine start immediately when the engine is started in this way, the vehicle 1 is surely shifted to the engine stall state before the vehicle 1 starts running, and the vehicle 1 runs with the gas filling hose 100 connected to the vehicle body. Can be prevented. The mounting state of the gas filling hose 100 with respect to the vehicle 1 at the time of starting the engine can be accurately grasped by the detection signal of the hose mounting detection unit 56, and it is determined whether or not the conditions for shifting the engine 2 to the engine stall state are satisfied. Accurately, and make every effort to determine the transition to the engine stall state.

Here, instead of the signal from the hose attachment detection unit 56, when the fuel lid 48 is opened, it is determined that the gas filling hose 100 is attached to the vehicle body of the vehicle 1 based on the ON signal from the switch 54 of the lock mechanism 50. You may do so.
The fuel lid 48 is opened on the premise that the gas filling hose 100 is connected to the filling coupler 28. Therefore, by shifting the engine 2 to the engine stall state in advance when the fuel lid 48 is opened, it is possible to prevent the vehicle 1 from traveling with the gas filling hose 100 connected to the vehicle body. Can be done.

In the above case, when the fuel shutoff valve 32 is closed or the ignition signal from the engine ignition device 12 is stopped in order to shift the engine 2 to the engine stall state, the first to third injectors 13a, 13b, 13c are simultaneously stopped. May be stopped.
By stopping the fuel injection from the first to third injectors 13a, 13b, 13c, the transition to the engine stall state can be made more reliable.

Although the examples of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, only specific examples for carrying out the present invention are shown above. The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to each embodiment. The present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and these are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
Although the example of the bi-fuel vehicle has been described in the above embodiment, a vehicle having an engine using only CNG as a fuel may be used, and the same effects as those in the above embodiment can be obtained.

1 vehicle, 2 engines, 5 drive wheels, 6 ECUs, 7 fuel switching devices, 8 engine speed sensors, 9 fuel selection switches, 10 notification devices, 11 engine starters, 12 engine ignition devices, 13A, 13B injectors, 14, 15 Fuel tank, 16 gas fuel supply device, 17 intake manifold, 18 throttle body, 18a throttle valve, 19 intake pipe, 20 air cleaner, 21 exhaust device, 22 exhaust manifold, 23 ternary catalyst, 24 exhaust pipe, 25 muffler, 26A, 26B connecting pipe, 27 fuel filling pipe, 28 filling coupler, 29 check valve, 30 fuel supply pipe, 31 main stop valve, 32 fuel shutoff valve, 33 regulator, 34 fuel filter, 35 residual pressure sensor, 36 digital fuel gauge , 37 Analog fuel fuel gauge, 38 Fuel temperature sensor, 39 Fuel pressure sensor, 40 Intake temperature sensor, 41 Throttle opening sensor, 42 Intake pipe pressure sensor, 43 Oxygen concentration sensor, 44 Ignition switch, 45 Water temperature sensor, 46 Body Outer plate, 47 containment, 48 fuel lid, 49 hinge, 50 lock mechanism, 51 cylinder, 52 plunger, 53 contact piece, 54 switch, 55 spring, 56 hose mounting detector, 57 control unit.

Claims (2)

A vehicle control device equipped with an engine that uses gaseous fuel as fuel.
A vehicle control device including a control unit that immediately stops the engine start and shifts to the engine stall state when it is determined that the gas filling hose is attached to the vehicle body during the engine start. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, further comprising a hose mounting detection unit that detects that the gas-filled hose is mounted on the vehicle body.

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